Big Muff - I'm paralyzed by too many choices

MikeH · July 28, 2009, 09:12:26 PM

I finally decided to make a BM clone (after selling my Green Tank version recently). I didn't take me much research to figure out that there are at least 10 different versions. Somehow this had remained a mystery to me. So whats the deal? Are they really that different soundwise?

BAARON · July 28, 2009, 10:02:13 PM

I suspect they're all noticeably different, yes. For $65, the GGG version of the kit has parts for 7 versions, so that might be an easy way to try them out firsthand...

km-r · July 28, 2009, 10:05:47 PM

heres my reference on big muffs...

http://www.pisotones.com/BigMuffPi/psst/BMP_versions.htm

ive played not a lot of big muffs but im quite ok with the green and the american ones played through an old orange amp.

aron · July 28, 2009, 10:15:56 PM

Somebody out there has my 70's Big Muff. He even wrote me to tell me .... long ago!

John Lyons · July 28, 2009, 10:20:38 PM

Sound clips of a bunch of muffs.
http://www.stompunderfoot.com/BIG_MUFFS.html

There are about 30+ versions out there.
Matt is making several of them for this page.

sevenisthenumber · July 28, 2009, 10:29:04 PM

im in the same situation.... $:-\$

doitle · July 28, 2009, 10:36:51 PM

Quote from: John Lyons on July 28, 2009, 10:20:38 PM
Sound clips of a bunch of muffs.
http://www.stompunderfoot.com/BIG_MUFFS.html

There are about 30+ versions out there.
Matt is making several of them for this page.

Wow that's cool I've always heard about the triangle and the ram's head and the other big muffs but only ever heard and played through my new reissue Russian Big Muff.

I can't decide if I like that Triangle or the Guild Foxy Lady better. They are soooo bassy! I love it.

aron · July 28, 2009, 11:01:58 PM

Isn't it made worse in that there were variations of the triangle muffs too (different transistors, values) etc...?

aron · July 28, 2009, 11:08:07 PM

Remember this thread:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=34437.msg253630#msg253630

MikeH · July 28, 2009, 11:26:54 PM

I don't know how I never knew there were so many BM variants. I guess it was because I never looked into building one. Hehe. Those sound clips are great, and as I suspected most sound quite similar. I think I like the sound of the Rams Head the most out of those though.

frank_p · July 28, 2009, 11:42:02 PM

QuoteBig Muff - I'm paralyzed by too many choices

Quote from: km-r on July 28, 2009, 10:05:47 PM
heres my reference on big muffs...

http://www.pisotones.com/BigMuffPi/psst/BMP_versions.htm

$:-\$

You are absolutely right Mike, -paralysing- is the right word.

aron · July 29, 2009, 03:22:33 AM

For me, when I could afford stuff, the Big Muff was the king of fuzzes. Little did I know I the Tri-Dirty Booster I bought was a Big Muff. I really did love the "promise" of the Big Muff. Santana-like sustain, big sound. I've made a number of them for sure.

frequencycentral · July 29, 2009, 05:59:09 AM

Big Muffs are very much like women: there are many different versions, each one has it's own attractions, the ones with a big bottom end can be quite desirable, it would be great but not practicle to have every different version, you tend to love the one you're with until another comes along with interesting mods, your friend's BM will do things that yours won't. However, if you change your BM for a different version, the old one won't take your house, your car and half your income.

Mark Hammer · July 29, 2009, 09:04:00 AM

Mike Matthews is quoted as saying that if you plucked 4 different BMPs off the line from any of the 1970's issues, they would all sound different from each other. Largely because of the variation in components.

I don't wish to diss the folks who have put lots of effort and time into documenting the differences between issues, who have worked tirelessly on layouts, and project PDF's, who have spent money on buying different issue examples and time on recording sound clips, and so on. But, it is very rare that inferences about the assorted issues are based on examination of many untampered/unmodded examples of Issue X in order to identify what lies in common, against examination of many examples of Issue Y, in order to see what they have in common. It becomes a bit like making assertions about men and women, based on this gal you know, and this guy you know. In the world of statistics, we would describe this as sampling error.

My advice is to build one, of whatever issue, either on breadboard or pefboard (with lots of space), live with it for a little while, and decide what you need to change based on how it sounds to you. I promise you that: a) if you like double-clipping there will certainly be something there for you to like, and if you don't like double clipping there won't be, and b) whatever you wish was juuuuuuust a little different in tone or control will be delightfully easy to identify and improve, given the massive amount of collective experience, expertise, and documentation out there.

So just jump in, the water's fine!

You can figure how you want to swim once you get there.

mattpas · July 29, 2009, 09:44:25 AM

Quote from: Mark Hammer on July 29, 2009, 09:04:00 AM
Mike Matthews is quoted as saying that if you plucked 4 different BMPs off the line from any of the 1970's issues, they would all sound different from each other. Largely because of the variation in components.

Mark,
Thanks for posting. I appreciate your input. I have read that, about the differences and what I did is take every Triangle schematic I could find and compared what was different and what those differences would affect. I trimmed it down to what differences would have the most impact. I have it down to six different 1971 Triangle versions. In my opinion, these six seem to be the best versions and variations to use for sound differences.
I know this may seem like a lot of work but I love the pedal and am having fun doing this.

Also, thanks to everyone else who has posted so far.

raulgrell · July 29, 2009, 09:45:53 AM

Quote from: frank_p on July 28, 2009, 11:42:02 PM

$:-\$

You are absolutely right Mike, -paralysing- is the right word.

Really? Judging by the weird faces, I'd say "stroke-inducing" is more appropriate....

thereverend · July 29, 2009, 10:01:34 AM

i remember seeing j mascis from dinosaur jr. playing a few years back with mike watt at wetlands. j's pedal board had at least 4 muffs on it from what i remember. actually that's all i can remember. it was loud and i was very, very drunk.

jrod · July 29, 2009, 10:15:55 AM

Quote from: John Lyons on July 28, 2009, 10:20:38 PM
Sound clips of a bunch of muffs.
http://www.stompunderfoot.com/BIG_MUFFS.html

There are about 30+ versions out there.
Matt is making several of them for this page.

I liked the Jordon Creator a lot! Anyone know of a schematic? I don't think there is one, huh?

John Lyons · July 29, 2009, 11:58:03 AM

Mahoney Guitar Gear is making a clone of the Jordan "Creator" with a mid control.
Check it out. sounds great.
I don't think there is a schematic on line.

john

jrod · July 29, 2009, 12:08:40 PM

Quote from: John Lyons on July 29, 2009, 11:58:03 AM
Mahoney Guitar Gear is making a clone of the Jordan "Creator" with a mid control.
Check it out. sounds great.
I don't think there is a schematic on line.

john

Thanks, John!

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Big Muff - I'm paralyzed by too many choices